Rajahmundry, July 14: At least 27 pilgrims were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede during Godavari 'pushkaralu' in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, officials said.

The victims, all hailing from coastal Andhra, include 11 women and four children. The incident took place at Rajahmundry district at a festival that celebrates rivers.

The reason behind the huge crowd at the Godavari river bank is because of the fact that the festival happens once in every 144 years. However, a smaller version of Pushkar is held once in every 12 years.

Chief Ministers of both the states-Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrashekhar Rao- took a holy dip in the river in the morning, along with other pilgrims. The mass pilgrimage is compared to the Kumbh mela in the North because pilgrims take a dip in rivers considered pious.

In a similar incident 12 years ago, 39 people were trampled to death during the Kumbh celebrations in the Godavari river in Nashik, around 100 miles northeast of Mumbai.